Are Political Ethics an Oxymoron? Task Force to Present Findings, Invite Public Comment

Can City Hall be reformed? Ethics Task Force charged with trying. Credit: Flickr/danperry.com

The first Chicago alderman was convicted for accepting bribes back in 1869, and the city was recently named the most corrupt in America. (Who’s calling who a Second City now?) So you can see how the mayor’s Ethics Reform Task Force is facing an uphill battle. Because really, how do you reform something that doesn’t exist.

Such a tall order calls for more than a task force; it takes a village. On Monday, March 12, the task force will provide residents with an update on the status of their report at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., 6-9 p.m. A panel discussion among experts will follow and then the public is invited to comment. And they’ve only scheduled three hours?

In addition to reviewing Chicago’s current ethnics ordinance (ah, so there is one), the task force has been reviewing best practices and encouraging citizens to contribute their ideas. What reform would strengthen your trust in local government? How can Chicagoans hold their representatives accountable? If you can’t make the meeting, feel free to email the task force with your thoughts.